Many subgenres of heavy metal developed outside of the commercial mainstream during the 1980s. Thrash metal emerged in the early 1980s under the influence of hardcore punk and the new wave of British heavy metal. 1986 is a year of good metal albums.

Accept – Russian Roulette, Russian Roulette is the seventh studio album by German heavy metal band Accept, released in April 21,1986. The album returns Accept to the darker, heavier sound of releases prior to the more commercial-sounding predecessor Metal Heart.

King Diamond – Fatal Portrait, the debut album by the heavy metal band King Diamond. The album was released in February 17, 1986. This is one of the band’s only albums which is not a whole concept album.

Ozzy Osbourne – Ultimate Sin, is the fourth studio album by British heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on 22 February 1986, and it was remastered and re-issued on 22 August 1995.

Metallica – Master Of Puppets, the third studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986. Master of Puppets was the band’s last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in Sweden during the album’s promotional tour.

Judas Priest – Turbo, is the tenth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 14 April 1986. The album marked the band’s first use of guitar synthesizers.

Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, is the debut album of the Swedish doom metal band Candlemass. Released June 10, 1986. the album had a significantly different sound than other European heavy metal bands of the time, because of their use of operatic vocals mixed over slow and heavy guitar riffs.

Flotsam And Jetsam – Doomsday For The Deceiver, released on July 4, 1986, is the debut album by Flotsam and Jetsam. It is the only album by Flotsam and Jetsam with Jason Newsted before his departure for Metallica.

Destruction – Eternal Devastation, released in July 12, 1986 the second full-length album by German thrash metal band Destruction. It showed the band had moved away from their previous black metal-influenced style.

Motörhead – Orgasmatron, is the seventh studio album by the band Motörhead, released 9 August 1986. It is the only full Motörhead album to feature Pete Gill on the drums, although he also played on the new tracks recorded for the previous 1984 compilation album, No Remorse.

Megadeth Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, released on September 19, 1986. Is the second studio album and major label debut by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? is regarded as a thrash metal classic and as an album that gave prominence to extreme metal.

Iron Maiden – Somewhere in Time, released on 29 September 1986, is the sixth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The studio follow-up to the hugely successful Powerslave/Live After Death pair, it was their first album to feature guitar synthesisers.

Metal Church – The Dark, the second full-length album released by Metal Church. It was released on 6 October 1986 and was the last album featuring the group’s classic lineup of David Wayne, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington, Duke Erickson, and Craig Wells.

Nuclear Assault – Game Over, debut album by thrash metal band Nuclear Assault, released in October 7, 1986. Game Over was ranked number 287 in Rock Hard magazine’s book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.

Slayer – Reign in Blood, Released October 7, 1986 and is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Reign in Blood was well received by both critics and fans, and was responsible for bringing Slayer to the attention of a mainstream metal audience.

W.A.S.P. – Inside the Electric Circus, the third studio album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released in October 1986. The album is the band’s first to feature singer and bandleader Blackie Lawless playing guitar, having switched from bass to rhythm guitar.

Possessed – Beyond The Gates, is the second and final album by death metal band Possessed. It took a different direction from their debut, Seven Churches. Compared to Seven Churches, Beyond the Gates has a more technical feeling and, due to poor production, a muddy sound.

Sepultura – Morbid Visions, debut studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released on November 10, 1986. While later albums have a more political edge, Morbid Visions is notable for “Satanic” themes.

Dark Angel – Darkness Descends, released November 17, 1986, is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Dark Angel. The album is considered a landmark in the thrash metal genre.

Kreator – Pleasure to Kill, is the second studio album by German thrash metal band Kreator, released in November 1986. Pleasure to Kill is widely considered a thrash classic. It is also considered a landmark album in the history of thrash metal.

Joe Satriani – Not of This Earth, is the first studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released in 1986. Satriani provides a brief introduction to himself and the background behind Not of This Earth.